Shortly before the recent 36th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision I wrote a column about some of the horrifying situations faced by women who had botched abortions during a time when abortions were illegal. I knew the topic would generate intense debate.

Some responses were angry, some made familiar arguments or were simply unprintable. But others, on both sides of the debate, were intelligent and interesting. Of the roughly five dozen e-mails I’ve received so far, the letters were almost equally divided between those who support Roe v. Wade and those who don’t.

As I mentioned in the original column, I know this issue is far from settled, and the comments submitted by our readers show how polarizing this issue truly is. This is one time where I felt I didn’t need to expand on my own perspective and felt that the comments spoke for themselves.

Here are some highlights:

Claudia Hiatt of Huntington Beach wrote to tell me to “seriously pray” about this issue and hoped that one day I would “see the sin of this act.”

“Yvette, spare us all another story about the dirty coat hanger. Even if abortions were outlawed, no one in their right mind would attempt any of the methods you mention in your piece. They would seek out the abortionist who has decided to perform abortions illegally.”

Hiatt is referring to my previous column and the methods outlined by retired obstetrician/gynecologist Richard Jonas, who in the 1950s and early 1960s treated patients who had inserted potassium permanganate tablets into their vaginas, or visited back-alley abortionists who used coat hangers encased in plastic rubber tubes to perform abortions.

Jacki Hanson wrote to say that she worked as a nurse at a large county hospital in the pre-Roe v. Wade era, and described how she saw tragedy after tragedy:

“I used to hold my head in my hands and say ‘Why, why, why, when they are so desperate, can’t we give them the care they need under proper conditions.’ Those who want to make it illegal again have never been in a situation that would drive them to a backyard abortionist. And they should not judge others,” wrote Hanson.

Kay Vickery was a college student in the 1960s. She wrote to say that she remembered when women didn’t have a choice, when they traveled far to get abortions, and how some of them died.

“I don’t think any woman is “pro abortion”, but rather she finds herself in a position where she just can’t have another child…. I wholeheartedly agree that this decision should be a personal one, and government needs to keep out of it… I think that women in my generation (older boomers) appreciate our right to choose, because we remember how terrible it was when we didn’t have it.”

Gerry and Jolene Roberts wrote to tell me that I should be aware that faith based people of all denominations are going to fight for children every step of the way.

“I am ashamed of this country and people like you who encourage medical staff to let a baby be born and then drown it or leave it in a dark room to die. All of you should be on your knees thanking God your own mothers didn’t do to you what you are pushing to do to others. When it comes time for you to leave this world, all those babies will be waiting for you. I hope you will love them then,” they wrote.

Meanwhile, an anonymous female reader wrote to say she would fight for the right for freedom of religion, but did not agree that the beliefs of any particular religion should be imposed upon others.

“Isn’t that what our country is based upon? Never have an abortion if you believe it to be wrong. Stop there,” she wrote.

Reader Gary E. Kain has an opinion on the matter, but his issue is that he simply doesn’t want to pay for abortions.

“I do not want my tax dollars to pay for birth control,” wrote Kain. “Now if you or others want to have a private clinic for birth control and/or abortions and you will fund the clinic from outside tax dollars, then you have my blessings (to) go for it.”

Others, like reader John Johlic said we need better education on issues like safe sex and birth control, but wrote that he would always agree with the right to a choice: “If you do not want to have such a procedure as an abortion – don’t. If you do desire one – have it. No government has the right to deny you this right.”

For reader Susan Boozier of Irvine, abortion is not a political issue, nor a woman’s issue: “It is a human issue – an issue that puts us either on the level of a barbarian or a civilized being who will protect the most vulnerable and innocent among us,” she wrote.

And lastly reader Tara Balfour wrote to say that while she doesn’t consider herself to be “pro-abortion,” she strongly believes that “we have a responsibility to offer safe and effective health care to women and must continue to protect their rights to make decisions about their own bodies – whether we agree or disagree with the decisions they make, or the circumstances that led them there.”

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.